Improvement in potato-diggers



P. M. BAWTINHIMER.

POTATO-BIGGER.

No. 171,913. Patented Jan.11,1'876.

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N PEYERS. PHDTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT O EIoE.

PETER M. BAWTINEIIMER, OF WOODSTOCK, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN POTATO-DIGGERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,913, dated J anuaryll, 1876; application filed November 8, 1873. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER M. BAWTIN- HIMER,of Woodstock, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, haveinvented a new and Improved Potato-Digger, of which the following is aspecification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a sectional sideelevation of my improved potato-digger on the line 0 c, Fig. 2; and Fig.2, a sectional front elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is tofurnish, for the use of farmers, animproved machine for digging potatoes, by which the ground is loosened,and the potatoes gathered in a rapid and effective manner.

My invention consists of a cylindrical drum of strong wire-gauze orother suitable material, which is supported liy-a suitable frame, androtated by the wheels of the same. Lat, eral supporting-arms with radialcurved tines are applied to the cylinder for raking the ground, andgathering and sitting the potatoes, in connection with the drum.Adjustable teeth are connected to the front part of the frame forloosening the earth in advance of the tines.

In the drawing, A represents the frame of the potato-digger, which ishung to the axle O of the hind wheels B, and supported by small frontwheels B. The hind wheels B gear, by projecting cam-wheels D, withpinions D which turn in suitable standards or in bearings at the rearpart of frame A, and gear, by the additional pinions D keyed on theshafts of pinion D with cog-wheels E, transmitting rotary motion tocylindrical drum F. The cog-wheels E are cast or otherwise attached tothe end disks E of drum F, which turns freely on the axle 0. Drum F ismade of strong wire-gauze, reticulated sheet metal, or other suitablematerial, attached to side disks E, and to four or more lateral arms orbars, G, which are firmly applied to the side disks E. Each bar G isarranged with a series of strong radially-extending tines, G, which arecurved to take up the potatoes and retain them thereon.

The supporting-bars G or the whole drum F may be made adjustablebysuitable lever construction, in the usual manner, so that the tinesmay penetrate the earth to any required depth, and be thrown out of gearin turning, or after the work has been done.

The forward motion of the wheels B causes the rapid descent of thetines, which dig into the ground, carry the potatoes with them, and siftthe earth in their upward motion. The potatoes are, by the rotation ofthe drum, transferred from the tines to the grate-like surface of thedrum, and cleaned from the adhering sand or earth, which passes throughthe drum to the ground.

From the drum the potatoes may be either deposited on the ground in thetrack of the drum, or into a box or other receptacle counec'ted to therear of frame A.

Three or more teeth, H, are applied to frame A in front of the drum, forbreaking up the earth when it may be too hard for the tines. These teethmay also be made adjustable, so that they can be lowered or raised bythe driver.

The machine is drawn by a team of horses, and performs its work rapidly,without getting out of order or injuring the potatoes. I

'Havin g thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent The combination of a convex grate, arranged soas to form a complete cylindrical grate, together with the long, narrow,and slightlycurved tines, as described in the foregoing specification.

PETER M. BAWTINHIMER.

Witnesses:

W. R. BAKER, JNo. LEwIs.

